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“Most of these projects involve designing hardware prototypes while applying scientific principles,” said Tahmina. 

Though Simonis enjoys inventing, research, and 3D printing as a maker, many of his skills were transformed from the engineering courses he took at 91���� Marion. 

“We teach them how to design their parts and John took it to the next level," said Tahmina, "Designing his own parts and creating a prototype. In our Engineering 1182 course, we cover key principles like manual drafting, assembly creation, design constraints, and mechanical assembly.” She emphasized that SolidWorks, CAD work, and manual drafting are more deeply integrated into 91���� Marion’s curriculum compared to the Columbus campus. “It’s something that all of our Engineering 1182 students learn, and I really want to highlight that,” she added. 

Tahmina and Simonis also stressed the unrecognized benefits of smaller class sizes and faculty-student connections. 

“Having faculty members who understand where students are in CAD, where they struggle, and where they excel, and then adapting assignments to help them succeed, is incredibly impactful”, she explained. 

Beyond the classroom, strong industry ties in 91���� at Marion also give students real-world experience. 

“You get a great connection between theory and practical application because of the work our faculty does maintaining relationships with industry”, she said. “Networking with industry and understanding real-world problems helps students become future leaders.” 

 
Industry collaborations: real-world engineering solutions

Beyond research, Simonis has applied his engineering skills to real-world industry challenges, working with local companies through 91���� at Marion to develop practical solutions.

Simonis consulted for one local company who had the challenge of automating inventory counting in a hazardous environment, where traditional methods were difficult to maintain. Using his skills from Engineering 1182 at 91���� Marion he proposed a solution which incorporated a machine-learning framework, running on a small fanless Single Board Computer (SBC). At another local company, Simonis developed a custom model template in SolidWorks to generate CAD-ready gear profiles. “My script cut down the modeling process significantly,” he shared.

“One of the benefits that I really think that we offer as a campus is that personal connection,” he said, “when a teacher is recommending a student to work on a project with the company, they're recommending that student because they've observed that student works in those areas.” 

Simonis continues to expand his industry connections outside of Marion, applying the skills he gained at 91���� Marion to new projects such as SQL database automation and OCR-based document sorting. His hands-on experience bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world engineering, a mindset he’s now passing on to the next generation.
 

Training young future scientists and engineers

Simonis worked with Olentangy STEM students, designing a project to introduce them to university-level engineering. “I developed a simple project for automating plant watering”, he explained. Using microcontrollers and sensors, students learned to measure soil moisture and adjust watering based on plant needs. “Cacti need less water than basil or mint, so the system could detect moisture levels and determine when watering was necessary,” he said. This project also tied into concepts covered in 91���� Marion’s Engineering 1182 course. 

In addition, Simonis was hired as a session leader for 91���� Marion’s summer camps, teaching middle and high school students about robotics and engineering. For the first camp, I followed a provided curriculum and added fun activities,” he said. “For the second, I had more input and helped develop projects, including a high-tech escape room for young campers.” Through these experiences, he continues to mentor and inspire future engineers.

“Our campus offers the benefit of the 91���� name but also having that personal connection to back up the 91���� name to really prove why our university matters in my opinion,” he concluded.

Links to all of our papers:

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Flood (Dehumidifier):

Fire Extinguisher (Thunderhead):